6. Chapter 6
Chapter six
“ W hat are you doing?”
Itri frowned, his eyes going from Arlo to the cutting board on the counter where he had been mincing garlic. “Making the garlic butter. Why?”
“It’s not—” Arlo stopped abruptly and shook his head. “Yes. That is…exactly how I would have done it.”
Then he turned away and moved to the other end of the counter to transfer the macaroni and cheese to a casserole dish.
Itri returned to his task with a smirk. He wouldn’t have pegged his mate for a micromanager, but clearly, Arlo had very specific ideas about how things should be done in the kitchen.
And honestly? Fair.
Everyone had something, that one hill they would defend and die on. How they liked their cabinets organized. A certain way they put plates and cups in the dishwasher. If the toilet roll went over or under.
For him, it was folding. His right eye twitched every time he watched Arlo fold a blanket or a towel, and it took everything in him not to comment. It wasn’t wrong, but he wouldn’t call it right , either.
He envisioned plenty of disagreements once they moved in together, but he was getting ahead of himself. They had only known each other for a few days, and they hadn’t even discussed cohabitation.
His job offered the freedom to live anywhere, so he didn’t foresee location being an obstacle. If Arlo wanted to stay in Echo Falls and continue working at the hotel, he could live with that, but they would need a bigger place. His mate’s one-bedroom flat hadn’t been designed for someone his size, let alone two people.
“What did that butter ever do to you?”
Blinking, Itri looked up to find Arlo standing beside him, his eyebrows raised and a soft smile playing across his lips. Lost in thought, he had been operating on autopilot, and he hadn’t realized he’d been whipping the butter like it owed him money.
“Sorry,” he muttered.
“Hey.” Arlo slid between him and the counter and rested his hands on Itri’s hips. “What’s going on? What were you thinking about?”
Unsure how to articulate his concerns, he blurted out the first thing that popped into his head. “I hate how you fold towels.”
To his surprise and confusion, Arlo chuckled and gave him a little shrug in return. “And I hate that you don’t put the lid on the toilet seat down. It’s not a deal-breaker, though.”
The unexpected response loosened the knot in his chest, and he echoed Arlo’s laughter. “You’re right. Not a deal-breaker.”
“Out of curiosity, were you just standing here rage-hating my awesome folding skills? Or was this part of something bigger?”
He did appreciate how his dove always cut straight to the root of the problem instead of dancing around it. While probably not the time or place for the conversation, it did offer the perfect segue.
“I was thinking that we would both have to make some adjustments and compromises once we share a home.”
Rather than elaborate, he let the thought settle between them while he carefully studied Arlo’s expression. He trusted his mate wouldn’t lie, but he had come to realize that the guy censored a lot of what came out of his mouth. Whether habit or something deeper, he couldn’t say, but he didn’t like it.
With little things, like the incident in the market, he could let it go. When it came to their future, however, he didn’t want there to be any miscommunication that might eventually lead to resentment.
Several emotions flittered across Arlo’s face. Confusion. Realization. Mild panic. Until finally, he shrugged again.
“I get what you’re saying, but it’s not like we have to figure it out right now.”
Itri continued to smile while mentally rearranging his entire schedule. He had intended to return to London after the Heritage Festival, but that was before he’d met his mate. Now, he couldn’t fathom leaving town, let alone the entire country, without him.
He needed to extend his stay at the Manor, and he would have to launder his clothes. Better yet, he could just buy new ones. Business meetings could be postponed. Someone else could handle deliveries. It wasn’t ideal, but he would make it work.
Because while he had grown accustomed to getting what he wanted, this time, it wasn’t about him. If Arlo needed an entire year before he felt secure enough to move in with him, Itri would give him that time without pressure or expectations.
“No, that didn’t come out right,” Arlo continued, clearly unaware of his internal debate. “What I meant is that we don’t have to figure it out all at once. Just take things as they come, you know?” He pushed up on his toes to press a kiss to Itri’s jaw before walking away to check the oven. “So, when do we leave for London anyway?”
Itri’s spinning thoughts instantly ground to a stop. Then his brain tried to pivot, couldn’t find the plot, and short-circuited entirely.
“You’re coming with me to London?”
Arlo paused with his hand on the oven door and glanced over his shoulder. His eyebrows pinched together, and a crease formed across his forehead.
“Unless you don’t want me to? Did I misread that?”
“No, dove.” He had simply been alone for too long and was used to making decisions on his own. Something else he would need to work on. “You didn’t misread it.” He closed the distance between them in two strides and cupped Arlo’s cheek. “Are you sure? There’s no rush. If you need more time to think about it, I can wait.”
Arlo’s eyes fluttered, and he swayed into him with a happy sigh before jerking away with a frown. “Stop that,” he demanded, swatting Itri’s hand away. “I can’t think when you do that.”
Itri smirked, delighted with the effect he had on his mate.
“Now, to answer you,” Arlo continued. “I have no problem moving in with you.”
He didn’t elaborate, giving Itri a bit more insight into his personality. Arlo didn’t like talking about his feelings. Of course, he had already guessed that. He just hadn’t realized how deep it went. This time, though, he could practically see the mental effort it took to sidestep any mention of emotions.
He couldn’t allow him to hide forever, but for now, he let it drop.
“But…” he prompted when Arlo didn’t continue.
“Well, I need time to sort things out. I’ll have to put in my notice at the hotel. My lease is month-to-month, so that’s not a problem, but I still have to pack and figure out what to do with my furniture.”
“I’ve already extended my stay, so there’s no urgency.” A small lie, but if it eased even a fraction of Arlo’s worries, he wouldn’t be sorry for it. “Like you said, nothing has to be decided tonight. We’ll take it one step at a time.”
Arlo’s shoulders relaxed, his posture became less rigid, and his lips softened into a genuine smile. “I’m starving. Hurry up with that bread.”
Though he had done little, the fact that his instincts had been correct made Itri feel invincible. He knew his mate to be smart and capable, but Arlo also tended to overwhelm easily. If he needed someone to lighten the load and make decisions for him on occasion, Itri would happily take on that role.
“As you command, dove.” He gave a mock salute and turned back to finish preparing the garlic bread, his heart full to bursting with the sound of Arlo’s laughter.
After that, they found their rhythm, and dinner came together quickly. They discussed easy, low-stress topics while they ate together at the kitchen bar, and Itri made sure to let Arlo know that it was the best macaroni and cheese he’d ever tasted.
It might not have been the fanciest or most expensive meal, but he found comfort in the simplicity. It also happened to be the first time in recent memory that someone had cooked something for him just because they wanted to, and not because he had paid them for the service.
Besides, it really was damn good mac and cheese.
Once they had eaten their fill, Itri packed away the leftovers and wiped down the counters while Arlo took care of the dishes. It was all very domestic—a foreign concept to him—yet Itri found he quite enjoyed it. He couldn’t put it into words, but there was something surprisingly intimate about sharing the same space in comfortable silence while they worked toward a common goal.
Afterwards, Arlo poured them each a glass of wine, and Itri carried them to the sofa while his mate went in search of the television remote. Despite having two end tables and a coffee table that could easily support the device, they actually discovered it tucked under the couch.
Itri had questions, but Arlo seemed to find nothing unusual about it. Clearly, this wasn’t the first time he had found his belongings in unexpected places.
“Do you want to watch a movie?”
Not particularly, and he didn’t think Arlo had any interest in the television, either. He did, however, get the sense that his dove needed the background noise. Or perhaps it represented more of a safety net, a readily available distraction in case Itri accidentally asked hard questions.
“Absolutely. You choose.”
Not only did he have zero interest in the selection, but leaving the task to his mate allowed him time to prepare his surprise. Reaching into his pocket, he removed a small leather pouch, careful to keep it concealed in his palm.
Black as night and dusted with silver, it looked like a starlit sky. And while no bigger than a paperback book, it held a clever secret inside.
“I’ve seen this a dozen times, but it’s fun.” Arlo started some animated movie about monsters and settled down beside him on the cushions. “If you hate it, we can find something else.”
“This is fine.”
He got it. Arlo had been pushing himself to the limit with this festival, running on fumes and pure determination. At the end of a hectic day, he just needed calmness and familiarity.
And maybe a little reward.
Holding the pouch by a thin silver rope, he lowered it into Arlo’s lap without a word.
“Oh, it’s pretty.” Arlo held it gingerly by the bottom and lifted it toward the light, turning it back and forth as he admired the shimmer. “What is it?”
“Look inside.”
His brow scrunched as he glanced between the sack and Itri. “Wait…this is for me?”
“It is.” He spoke calmly, not wanting to make a big deal out of it. “It’s a fae pouch. It looks small, but it’s enchanted to hold just about anything you can fit through the opening.”
Arlo’s expression cleared, and he shook his head with a snort. “Well, that will come in handy when it’s time to pack up my apartment.”
“I suppose it will.” He hadn’t considered that perk when he’d made the purchase. Honestly, he hadn’t thought about much of anything other than seeing Arlo’s smile when he received the surprise. “Go ahead. Open it.”
That slightly pinched expression returned, but he loosened the knot on the silver rope and spread open the top. Then he reached inside, his eyes rounding when the sack swallowed his arm up to the shoulder.
“Oh, wow. This is the coolest thing ever.” A moment later, his gaze narrowed, and he tilted his head. “What’s this?” He sat back and pulled his arm free to reveal a small plant, its pot clasped between his fingers. “It’s the little magic trees we saw at the market.”
“It’s called a sojone tree. It’s supposed to keep bad dreams at bay.” Itri brushed a fingertip across one of the leaves, smiling when the plant began to whisper a quiet lullaby. “It’s rather soothing, don’t you think?”
“It’s beautiful, and I love it.” Arlo placed it down gently in the middle of the coffee table before angling to face him. “Thank you, but you didn’t have to do this.”
Again, he merely smiled, refusing to make a big deal out of the situation. “I’m aware.” He winked and motioned toward the bag. “Keep going.”
“There’s more?”
Arlo’s angelic face morphed into a look of disbelief that bordered on indignation. Itri couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Go on, dove. Let’s see what other treasures it holds.”
One by one, he removed his gifts from the magical satchel, lining them up on the coffee table after careful inspection. With every reveal, his excitement grew, overshadowing his initial discomfort.
Itri couldn’t have been more pleased.
The talking teapot had been an impulse buy. Impractical and not especially useful, but he found it entertaining, and it had made Arlo laugh.
The book—like the sojone tree—had been more purposeful. Itri hoped having a story read to him in a calm, rhythmic voice would help his mate unwind before bed after a long, stressful day.
A pocket-sized version of the magic mirror had been a risk. Arlo hadn’t appeared keen on the idea of peering into his future, which Itri respected. He hoped, however, Arlo would use the enchanted glass to look back on fond memories when he needed his spirits lifted.
The last item was one of the desktop fountains with colorful dancing waters. Although nothing more than a fanciful decoration, Arlo had spent a long time watching the water leap around the basin.
As a bonus, it reminded Itri of the fountain that had adorned the ballroom the night they’d met.
“These are amazing. I don’t—I didn’t—” Arlo turned his head and swallowed thickly. “Thank you.” When he turned back, his eyes were red-rimmed and a little glassy, but he had the most mesmerizing smile on his lips. “You really don’t have to buy me stuff, but I appreciate how much thought you put into everything.”
Sure, he enjoyed the perks of wealth, the stability it brought him, but ultimately, money itself meant little. Watching his mate’s eyes light up with joy because of a few baubles, however, was priceless.
Pressing his hand to the side of Arlo’s neck, he caressed his thumb over the male’s delicate cheek.
“I enjoy spoiling you.” He dipped his head, bringing their lips together in a tender kiss. “It makes me happy.”
“I can see that, but I want you to know that I don’t expect it.”
Itri dipped his head again to kiss the tip of Arlo’s nose. “You should. You expect far too little out of life when, in fact, you deserve the world.”
Arlo didn’t say anything, but his eyes shimmered, and he bit his bottom lip to hide its trembling.
While he might have loved his new treasures, one particular item remained suspiciously absent from the collection. The one that he had wanted more than anything, even if he hadn’t allowed himself to admit it.
Yet, despite its absence, Itri didn’t detect even a trace of disappointment. Only pure happiness and gratitude.
It was just one of the many reasons why he would raze mountains and fight the gods themselves for this amazing creature.
Pulling his hand away, he gave his mate a moment to compose himself while he went to retrieve the last gift from his overnight bag. When he returned, he found Arlo curled up under a blanket, looking more at ease as he ran his fingers through the iridescent leaves of the sojone tree.
“I have one more surprise,” he announced when he resumed his spot on the sofa.
“Itri—”
“It makes me happy,” he interrupted, his tone indicating there would be no argument. “Close your eyes and hold your hands out.”
Arlo made a big show of sighing and grumbling, but he did as Itri requested without further coaxing. “It better not be anything gross.” He shuddered theatrically. “Like spiders.”
“Now, dove, do you really think I would do that to you?”
Eyes still closed, he shrugged. “No. I just wanted you to know I hate spiders.”
Itri chuckled. “Duly noted.” He carefully lowered the item into Arlo’s cupped hands. “Okay, open your eyes.”